For those of you lucky enough to be awaiting the patter of tiny feet I speak with some experience when I say that it pays to be as well informed as possible. When my daughter Erin was born at Denia’s La Pedrera hospital some 16 months ago I have to confess that I was pretty clueless about the form filling exercise which follows the birth (I was even less prepared for everything else which fatherhood brings). Knowing in advance what is required means you will have one less thing to worry about, which is particularly handy for me as number two is due in December.

If you are married - The form to complete is appropriately named ‘Form of Application for the Registration of a Birth’ and can be obtained from the British Embassy in Madrid or from any other British Consulate. For most CB Friday readers this will be the British Consulate in Alicante although I have a pack of forms at my office which are available free of charge. The form is quite straightforward and, once completed, must be sent to the British Consulate-General in Madrid or, again, via any other British Consulate in Spain. The completed form must be accompanied by the following original documents:

The child’s full Spanish Birth Certificate showing the names of both parents.

A British parent’s full Birth Certificate (this is commonly confused with the short form of Birth Certificate which is not sufficient – it must give details of their parents);

The parents’ full marriage certificate together with a photocopy of each parent’s Passport. The Spanish ‘Libro de Familia’ is not what is required here;

The other parent’s birth certificate (if this parent is also British then once again a full Birth Certificate is required);

If either parent was previously divorced, the divorce ‘Decree Absolute’;

Certain special provisions apply where a parent was in ‘Crown Service’ and if this applies to you it will be necessary to obtain a letter of confirmation of Crown Service from the Government Department in the UK.

If you are unmarried – Much the same as above although there are certain special provisions which apply, and it will be necessary for both parents to make a Paternity Declaration if the father’s details are to appear on the Birth Certificate. It is also the case that an unmarried father will not acquire what English law calls ‘Parental Responsibility’ (this applies wherever the child is born – not just in Spain). This is a serious issue and should be addressed if the father wants to have an equal say in the child’s choice of school, medical treatments etc.

Fees (applicable to both married and unmarried parents)– The registration fee is currently € 86 euros plus € 55 euros for each certified copy required. A banker’s draft should always be used to pay the fee.

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Information courtesy of Marc White LL.B. (English Solicitor) - Visit homepage

If you have any questions about registering a birth then please email us: info@spanishadvertiser.info using your spanish advertiser email address and we will endeavour to return your query as soon as possible.